How This Year’s Free Iran Summit Proved Iranian Resistance’s Independence

Amir2018TaghatiJuly 6, 2023
How This Year’s Free Iran Summit Proved Iranian Resistance’s Independence
From June 30 to July 3, for four consecutive days, the National Council of Resistance of Iran held five major conferences

iranian resistance rally paris july 1, 2023
Written by
Mahmoud Hakamian

From June 30 to July 3, for four consecutive days, the National Council of Resistance of Iran held five major conferences and panels, alongside a major rally in Paris with thousands of supporters attending. The aim? Drawing the attention of the international community to a pressing issue: with the terrorist theocracy in Iran gone, the world will be a better place and this change is possible. Yet this year’s Free Iran summit came against the backdrop of several internationally influenced matters in which Tehran was the party with the most at stake and thus with the most undertaking.

On June 19, days after the NCRI had announced plans to hold the Free Iran Summit 2023, Paris police issued a statement to Reuters confirming that they had informed the organizing committee of the decision to ban the rally as it could “generate disturbances to public order due to the geopolitical context”.

Political analysts linked the decision to a 90-minute call between French President Emanuel Macron with the clerical regime’s President Ebrahim Raisi on June 10. Some French outlets speculated about European hostages being involved.

Abdol-Reza Farajirad, the regime’s former ambassador to Norway and Hungary, confirmed that during the negotiations to release French, Danish and Iranian-Austrian prisoners in Iran, agreements were made about controlling the MEK’s activities in Europe.

The NCRI issued a statement and declared it would challenge the French government’s decision in court.

“The clerical regime’s pressures on France to impose this ban reveals the mullahs’ paranoia over the popular sentiment towards the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the organization’s pivotal role in the nationwide uprising,” the statement partially read.

The wave of incidents undertaken against the Iranian Resistance were met with joyful enthusiasm in Tehran as well as all public stages where Iranian state officials could use to address the regime’s tight-knit follower base. From the regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Judiciary, down to Friday prayer leaders and IRGC field commanders, the regime claimed it had successfully persuaded the West to “turn their backs on the hypocrites” [regime’s pejorative term to defame the MEK in Iran’s society] and instead to capture, dismantle, expel and deliver members of the MEK back to Iran.

However, things eventually turned out differently and as almost everything was well covered by international and Persian-speaking media, observers were left to wonder how and why. What they failed to grasp is overlooking the same element this movement has been relying on all along; its independence.

Perhaps the regime’s greatest fear was to prevent a restive society witnessing a Free Iran Summit that showed how an Iranian organization has managed to merge domestic resistance cells with international backing. But eventually, as the fight between the clerical regime and its major opposition movement turned out, the people of Iran witnessed the forbidden scene combined with excessively more defiance, steadfastness and daring resilience.

The people of Iran learned that in contrast to the regime’s claims that the Iranian Resistance is supported by foreign powers, it has managed to defy all odds and continue to convey the message that appeasement with Tehran is doomed to fail and that the people of Iran are destined to victory.

There is little precedent of grassroot movements or resistance groups who actually made it to global recognition, let alone successfully achieving their goal which means bringing about social or political change. Either being backed by global powers or used for geopolitical bargain, many opposition groups have sacrificed their independence for the sake of winning or achieving power. But as support comes with strings attached, they lost more than they gained.

Ever since the Iranian Resistance went into exile, it has paid a heavy price to maintain its independence. In more than four decades, the movement has stayed true to its goals and ideals despite major shifts in its geographical location or the always changing mood and priorities of how world powers decided to engage the clerical regime in Iran.

“I must reiterate,” NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi said during her speech on July 1. “We neither desire nor have ever asked foreign governments to help our people and our Resistance to topple the regime. Instead, we urge them to cease supporting the mullahs.”

While addressing world leaders present at the summit with an immeasurable number of audiences watching via satellite TV, Mrs. Rajavi added, “Yet, we will not permit any compromise on the autonomy of the Resistance and Iran’s sovereignty for all the world’s wealth. We refuse to abandon our core beliefs, values, battles, and ideals to pursue power. We shall not endure the slightest hint of tyranny, exploitation, or authoritarian intent, be it from the dictatorships of the Shah or the mullahs. Furthermore, we do not depend on any foreign power to liberate Iran.”

Amir2018TaghatiJuly 6, 2023
Arab-Islamic Committee in Defence of Ashraf
Back to top button